The England and Wales Cricket Board has referred to as for a unified response to the crackdown in opposition to Afghanistan amid requires the England males's workforce to boycott subsequent month's Champions Trophy match.
England are attributable to face Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26, however British politicians need the workforce to refuse to play the 50-over match and take a stand in opposition to the Taliban regime's assault on girls's rights.
A letter to the ECB, written by Labor MP Tonia Antoniazzi, and signed by folks corresponding to Reform UK chief Nigel Farage and former Labor leaders Jeremy Corbyn and Lord Kinnock, referred to as for a boycott of the match to “send a clear signal” to England. Was requested to do. This sort of despicable abuse is not going to be tolerated”.
Women's participation in sports activities has been successfully outlawed for the reason that Taliban returned to energy in 2021, and plenty of of Afghanistan's feminine gamers have left the nation for his or her security.
Full membership relies on the presence of girls's cricket groups and route constructions in accordance with International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines.
However, the Afghanistan males's workforce has been allowed to take part in ICC tournaments with none restrictions.
In response to a letter signed by a bunch of greater than 160 politicians calling for a boycott, ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould stated the governing physique was “committed to finding a solution” that “upholds the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.” Is”.
“Although consensus has not been reached throughout the ICC on additional worldwide motion, the ECB will proceed to actively advocate for such measures,” he stated.
“A coordinated, ICC-wide method can be considerably simpler than unilateral motion by particular person members.”
Gould said the ECB would continue its policy of not organizing bilateral matches against Afghanistan but did not promise any boycott.
Bilateral matches are organized by individual cricket boards, but tournaments like the Champions Trophy are run by the ICC and, since Afghanistan are being allowed to participate by the governing body, England are set to face them as per the schedule. Is.
Australia have pulled out of playing several men's series against Afghanistan in recent years due to the Taliban regime's restrictions on women, but they played each other in the 2023 50-over World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup.
Gold said the ECB would engage with the UK government, other international boards and the ICC to “discover all potential avenues for significant change”, but acknowledged there were “various views” on the problem.
“We perceive the considerations raised by those that consider {that a} boycott of males's cricket might inadvertently help the Taliban's efforts to suppress freedom and isolate Afghan society,” Gould stated.
“It is essential to acknowledge the significance of cricket as a supply of hope and positivity for a lot of Afghans, together with these displaced from the nation.”
The Department of Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) is in touch with the ECB on the broader issue of the Afghanistan women's cricket team.
A DCMS spokesperson said, “We are deeply involved by the appalling erosion of the rights of girls and women in Afghanistan.”
“We welcome the truth that the ECB is making representations to the ICC on this broad concern and what help will be supplied.”
The Afghanistan women's team was formed in 2010, nine years after the fall of the Taliban regime to the US-led military coalition.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) initially barred the women's team from playing in several international tournaments, saying it received “threats from the Taliban”.
Twenty-five women cricketers were handed contracts by the ACB in 2020. Less than a year later the Taliban returned to power, ending any progress towards playing official women's internationals in Afghanistan.
More than 20 Afghan women cricketers managed to leave the country and are currently living in Australia.
England have played Afghanistan three times in One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals – all in ICC events – and lost their most recent meeting in the 2023 50-over World Cup.
Pakistan and impartial venue Dubai will host the eight-team Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9. Australia and South Africa are in Group B together with England and Afghanistan, whereas Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh are in Group A.
With inputs from BBC
